Valve



G. RAYMOND "A llll Filed May 11, 1936 INVENTOR ATTORNEY GW m 4 B G.RAYMOND 2,146,092

VALVEl Filed May ll, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR 6`w me a fno/7a(ATToRNEY GA RAYMOND Feb. 7, 1939.

' VALVE INVENTOR 6W m /Pa mma( B ATToNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1939` PATENTOFFICE VALVE Gwynne Raymond,

Application May 11,

9 Claims.

acter with means to prevent chattering of the valving member while thepressure differentials are becoming sufficiently positive to 4actuatethe' valve.

Other important objects of the invention are to l5 provide a valve ofthis character with cushioning means that is incorporated in theinternal parts of the valve; to provide means for selectively adjustingthe cushioning mechanism; to regulate the effect thereof on the valvingmember; and `to provide for opening and closing the valving member`responsive to variation `lin hydrostatic pressures of fluid movingthrough the valve.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a valve of thisycharacter with a pilot control for operating the valve independently ofthe hydrostatic head of fluid moving through the valve.

Another vobject of the invention is to provide a valve wherein thevalvingmember and seat,

as well as the cushioning mechanism, may be constructed of materials notaffected by the corrosive action of the fluid passed through the valve.4

Inaccomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a diaphragm actuated valveembodying the features of the present invention, the valve beingconstructed so that the hydrostatic head of fluid to be passed throughthe valve is utilized in opening and closing the valving member.

Fig. 1 A shows an adaptation of the valve for controlling flow of fluidfrom aliqud and gas separator.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of the valve body, thelower portion of the valve bonnet and the parts of the cushioningmechanism shown in disassembled, spaced relation. F I w Fig. 3 is a'horizontal section through the valve bonnet on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

is slow to oklahoma city, ou.

1936, Serial No. 79,057

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the valve body on the line 4 4,Fig. `1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the valve body on the line 5 5 ofFig.. l.

Fig. v6 is a perspective view of one of the dashpot cover plates.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a modified form of valve whereinthe valve member is actuated responsive to an external motivating force.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the valve bonnet of the modifiedvalve on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. 4

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the modifled form of valve on thelinel 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail section through the check piston and valve stemassembly, the valve stem sections being shown in elevation.

`Referring more in detail tothe drawings:

I designates a valve constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and which includes a valve body 2 which may be ofsubstantially globular shape, and provided'with inlet and outletconnections 3 and 4 on opposite sides of a partition 5 which divides theinterior of the valve body into inlet and outlet chambers 6 and 1respectively.

The inlet and outlet connections 3 and 4 may be of any suitable type toconnect with inlet and discharge lines 8 and 9, but in the illustratedinstance they are shown as provided with flanges which fluid flows fromthe inlet to the outlet sides r of the valve', and which is providedwith a bevelled seat I8 for seating a valving member I9.

The valving member I9 includes a mushroomshaped head 20 of slightlylarger diameter than the valve seat and has a threaded shank 2|projecting into the valve port I1. The head 20 has a flat face 22encircling the shank 2| to seat a washer 23 that is inserted over theshank 2|, and

. cooperates with a clamping washer 24 to secure a valvedisk 25 having acentral opening 26 snugly engaging over the shank 2I and a bevelledouter face 21 engaging the bevelled seat I8 of the ring I4. The valvedisk is preferably formed of one of the phenolic resins known asBakelite, as such material'is not subject to the corrosive action ofmost oily fluids and has sufficient resilience so that a seating ringmay be used which is of hard metal, for example nickel steel. The wash--ers and seating ring are clampngly retained valve stem, is a bonnetseating flange 32 encircling an opening 33 that is of larger diameterthan the diameter of the valving member to permit insertion thereof intothe valve body. Mounted on the flange 32 is a valve bonnet 34 comprisinga cylindrical neck 35 having a radially extending ange 36 provided withopenings 31 throughwhich fastening devices, such as bolts 38, are

projected into internally threaded sockets 39 formed in the seating faceof the flange 32 to secure the valve bonnet on the valve body.

Formed on the opposite end of the neck 35 lis one section 40 of adiaphragm housing4l. The section 40 is of concave-convex shape toprovide a 'pressure chamber 42 and terminates at its pe- 'ternallythreaded to' engage the stem 30.

riphery in a lateral, annular flange 43, having a i'lat, lupper face 44to seat the peripheral edge of a flexible diaphragm 45. Mounted on thediaphragm, in cooperative relation. with the lower housing section, isan upper housing section 46 conforming'in shape to the lower housingsection to provide a chamber 41 on thatside of the diaphragm. 'I'hesection 46 has a peripheral flange '-48 cooperating with the flange 43to clampingly secure the sections together by means of fasteningdevices, such as cap screws 49, extending through aligning openings 50and 5| in the flange 48 and diaphragm 45 respectively, and into threadedsockets 52.

Projecting axially from the wall of the housing section 46 is a hollow,cylindrical extension 53 closed by an, end wall 54 to form a springsocket 55 opening into the chamber 41. The diaphragm is backed on therespective sides thereof by means of plates 56 and 51 having openings 58and 59 aligning with a central opening 60 in the diaphragm to pass athreaded end 6| of the diaphragm stem 30. The opening 59 is formed in ahub portion 62 of the plate 51 and is in- The hub portion 62 is reducedon the face of Athe plate engaging the diaphragm to project through thediaphragm opening 58 into seating contact with the plate 56.

Sleeved over the projecting end of the stem 30 is a washerd 63 that isengaged by a nut 64 threaded on the stem and cooperating with thethreaded hub portion of the lower plate to clamp the plates to thediaphragm. The diaphragm 45. is normally urged into position for.seating` the valve member by means of a coil spring 65 having one endengaging the plate 56 and its opposite end carrying" a cap 66 that isengaged by the cone-shaped end 61- of an adjusting screw (i8, theadjusting screw being threadedly mounted in an opening 69 of the springsocket and retained in adjusted position by a jamb nut 19.. The jamb nut10 preferably has a cone-shapedportion 1|.

unal-shaped head 12 by whichit may be rotated to effect adjustment ofthe spring 65.

When the valve is used in connection with vessels operating undervarying. pressures it is necessary to balance the pressures' on theopposite sides of the diaphragm in order that opening movement of thevalve is responsive only t'o hydrostatic head of uid actingI on .theunder side of the diaphragm. When the gas pressures acting on thediaphragm' and on the liquid are bal anced, the valve can be set tooperate ata denite, predetermined hydrostatic pressure regardless of anyvariation in the gas pressure. I, therefore, provide the chamber 41 witha port 80 that is located in a boss 8|, formed on the upper face of thediaphragm housing section 46. and which has its outer end counter-boredand threaded to connect a pipe 82 which conducts the pressure mediumacting on the hydrostatic head y plates are supported on shoulders 85and 86v inset from the ends of the cylindrical chamber 81. The center ofthe plates are provided with suitable lopenings 88 to .slidably pass thediaphragm stem andv retain it in concentric relation with the valve stem29. The cover plates are further provided with' circular series ofopenings 89 and 99 to pass iluidfrom the interior of the valve body tothe diaphragm chamber 42 to act on the diaphragm and effect an openingof the valve, as later described.

The coupling 3| is preferably threaded on the free end of the diaphragmstem, and is secured against rotation by a cotter pin 9| extendingthrough the coupling and an aligning opening in the stem. The couplingis. further secured to the stem by means of a lock nut 92 threaded onthe stem and engaging against the collar. The collar has a recess 93 inits opposite' end opening from a side thereof, and which aligns withdrical head portion 96 to'engage within the re` cess 93, and has anannular groove 91 to engage in the notch 94 and thereby couple the valvestem to the diaphragm stem so that when the diaphragm is actuated thevalve member is seat. When the valve is operated with comparatively lowpressure fluids the valving member tends to chatter for the reason thatthe diaphragm is slow to respond to the differential forces tending'tomove the diaphragm and those tending to hold the valve closed, and inorder to prevent this effect, Iprovide the movable parts of the valvewith aninternal cushioning mechanism, as now to be described.

Formed within the opening 33l at a point spaced below the seating faceof the ange 32 is an annular rib 98 extending inwardly therefrom tomount a dash-pot 99. lThe'dash-pot includes a. cylindrical wall |00having a closed end |Il| facing the valving member and an open end |02facing the lower cover plate 84 to form a piston chamber |03. Thedash-pot is provided with an annular rim |04 for seating on the rib 98and which is retained thereagainst by means of an annular rib |05 formedas a part of the valve bonnetand engaging against a gasket ring |06seated on the rim IM. The portion ofthe dashpot which extends ,past theannular rib conforms to the inner diameter of the rib, but the remainingportion thereof is reduced in size to provide an annular .passage |01between the dash-pot and the valve body so that fluid can pass from thevalve body through radial ports |01' in the side wall of the dash-pot tothe interior thereof, and through the ports 90 and 89 into the chamber42 to act on the diaphragm in responseto the hydrostatic pressure of thefluid inthe inlet section of the line.

v The valve stem 29 is reciprocably mounted in an opening |08 in the endI0| of the dash-pot, and carries a piston |09 -snugly tting the innersurface of the Vdash-pot chamber. The piston |09 includes a hub portion||0 that is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the valve stemand is secured against rotation thereon by means of a cotter pin ||2extending through notches in the hub and through an opening in the stem.The piston is retained in desired spaced relation relatively to thebottom of the dash-pot chamber by means of a split washer ||3 that isseated in a groove ||4V formed in the valve stem adjacent the terminusof the threads and has its periphery projecting from the stem to seat ina counter-bore ||5 formed in the bottom face of the piston.

Fluid is drawn into the dash-pot chamber be` low the piston through aport I|6 that is controlled by a needle valve ||1 `threadedly mounted inan opening ||8 formed in the side wall of the valve body in' alignmentwith the port ||6. The opening I8 is formed in a boss 9 having aconeshaped recess |20 to be engaged by the cone .portion |2| of a jambnut |22 that is threaded on the thre-aded portion of the needle valvevtoYpr-event rotation thereof after it has been selectively adjusted toeffectively vary the port area. The outer end of the needle valve isprovided with a flattened portion whereby it may be readily rotated toeffect adjustment thereof.

In using a valve, for example, on the liquid outlet line of 'an oil andgas separator |23, a valve is selected having the proper sized diaphragmarea as compared to the area of the valving member, for it is primarilythese areas which control the working periods of the valve and theamount of liquidpassed therethrough at each operation, as now to bedescribed.

After selecting the valve -having the proper sized diaphragm area forthe work in hand, the valve is connected to the line 8 at a sufficientvlevel below the connection of the line with the separator so that theline will contain a column of liquid having a hydrostatic headsuilicient to operate the valve.` The line 82 is then connected with thegas space at the top of the separator, as

' shown in Fig. 1-A, so that the gas pressure balance.

With the valve connected as described, surplus liquid flowiirgfrom theseparator empties into the line 8 but is stopped by the valve since thevalve is normally held closed incidental to its weight and action of thespring on the diaphragm. As the level of the liquid rises in the pipe 8,liquid flows through the ports |01 to fill the dash-pot cylinder and toact against the diaphragm through the ports in the cover plates 84 and83. However, the valve will remain seated until thel hydrostatic levelof the fluid in the line 8 becomes high enough so that the effectivehead pressure, acting on the under side of the diaphragm, overbalancingthe pressure acting sure becomes sufficiently positive to assuremovement of the valve in response to the pressure acting on the lowerside of the diaphragm and in opposition to the forces acting to retainthe valve closed. When this occurs the valve is moved away from itsseat, causing the piston |09 to draw fluidV through the port ||6 of thecheck chamber as set by the needle valve I| |1.

By adjusting the needle valve to vary the effective area of the portIIS, the rate at which fluidmay be dr-awn into the check chamber iscontrolled so that the opening rate of the valve may be regulated to thedesired degree and thereby prevent any tendency of the valve to chatter.The fluid is then free to ilow from the pipe 8, through the valve seat,and out through the pipe 9.

When suiicient fluid has owed from the pipe |l to drop the hydrostatichead so that the head pressure acting on the under side of the diaphragmbecomes less than the power of the spring 65, the valve will be movedtoward seated position as governed by the rate at which the checkingliquid can be forced by the piston |09 through the valve port IIE. Thischecking movement of the valve allows time for liquid to ilow from theline 8, and prevents tendency of the valve to pound against its seat.After the valve is seated and other liquid flows from the separator intothe line 8, the hydrostatic head will again build up to act on the valvein the same m-anner as above described, to effect intermittent automaticilow of the liquid, under control of the valve.

' In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, thevalve body and dash-pot mechanism correspond exactly to the similarparts in the preferred form of the invention, and the numeralsdesignating these parts are used in connection with the same parts inthe modified form of the invention. The valve lbonnet |25, however, isof different construction, and has a cylindrical neck |26 yof longerlength than the cylindrical neck 34 of th valve bonnet previouslydescribed, and has oppositely arranged diametrical openings |20 topermit manipulation of the packing boxes |21 and |28 that are mountedwithin the opposite ends of the neck to close off the open end of thedash-pot cylinder and the bottom end of the lower diaphragm chamber |29,respectively. In this instance, the lower diaphragm chamber |29 isprovided with a channel |30 through which a pressure fluid may beadmitted to the chamber |29 for actuating the diaphragm against actionof its loading spring |3| to effect opening of the valving member, theupper chamber |32 of the. diaphragm housing being open to atmospherethrough a port |33.

The diaphragm stem is formed of two sections |34 and |35 that areconnected by a pair of coupling bosses |36 and |31 that are providedwith longitudinal grooves |38 and |39 conforming to the outer diameterof the stem sections and which have inwardly extending ribs |40 and |4|to engage in grooves |42 and |43 in the stem sections. The blocks areretained in coupling engagement with the stem sections by means of abolt |44 extending therethrough between the spaced ends of the rod, asshown in Fig. '1.' Also carried by the bolt |44 is a pointer H5 that ismovable over a scale |46 that is formed in the cylindrical neck at oneside of one of the openings |20 to indicateythe openland closed posilongas the spring pressure, plus'the resistance of the movable parts,preponderates over the pressure in the diaphragm-chamber |29. However,when the pressure medium is admitted thereto the forces acting on thediaphragm overcome the spring action, plus the pressure acting on theupper surface of the valving member, to cause opening 4movement of thevalve. However, the valve can move to open position only when the motivepressure has become sufficiently effective to cause immediate openingthereof under control of the check piston which can move upwardly onlyas fast as fluid may be. drawn therein under the control port H6,thereby preventing the valve from chattering, Ain the same manner as inthe valve described in connection r with the first form of theinvention.

When the supply of pressure medium to the chamber |29 is cut oil, thespring, acting on the upper side of the diaphragm, again becomeseffective to c lose the valve, however, closing movement of the valve inresponse to spring`` pressure is dependent upon the rate at which fluidis forced from the check .chamber by downward movement of the checkpiston to prevent its sudden lclosing of the valve.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simple andinexpensive valve struc-l ture, whereina cushioning mechanism isincorporated into and forms a part of the internal valve mechanism, andwhich eectively prevents chattering which is detrimental to the valvingmember as well as its seat. 'Ihe cushioning mechanism also provides anaccurate control of the opening and closing movements of the valve toprevent detrimental eiects caused by sudden opening or closing thereof.

What I claimand desire to-secure by Letters Patent is:

1. -A valve including a valve body having inlet and outlet connectionsfor flow of uid through the valve body and having a valvel seat, avalving member for said seat, a dash-pot supported within the thevalvebody,la piston in the dash-pot, means connecting the piston withthe valving member, a valve bonnet carried by the valve.

p of q liquid through. the valve when said liquid is liquid actingagainst one side of said diaphragm, means connecting the diaphragm withthe valving member, 'cushioning means in said connecting means forcontrolling movement of the valving member responsive to movement of thediaphragm, a spring engaging the diaphragm to seat the valving member,means for admitting the gaseous medium.to the valve body to act upon theopposite side of the diaphragm, and means for regulating the cushioningeffect of said cushioning means.

3. A valve for controlling flow of liquid subject to varying pressure ofan elastic uid and responsive to h-ydrostatic. head of the liquidincluding a valve body having an inlet adapted for a diaphragm in saidchamber having `one side y subject "to the hydrostatic head of liquid onthe inlet side of the valve to eiect movement of the diaphragm to valveopening position, means connecting the diaphragm with the valvingmember, means connected with the diaphragh cham-- ber on the oppositeside of said diaphragm for` y transmitting varying pressure of elasticfluid tov the diaphragm whereby the eiiect of the elastic fluid actingon the head of liquid is substantially balanced so that the diaphragm isrey sponsive to the hydrostatic head of said liquid to open the valve,and means for checking opening movement of the valving member includingmeans for timing closing of the valving member when the hydrostatic headof liquid drops to a predetermined level.

4. A valve for controlling flow of liquid subject `to varying pressureof an Aelastic uid and responsive to hydrostatic head of the liquidvincluding a valve body having an inlet adapted for connection with saidheadV of'liquid and' having an outlet, a valving member in the valvebody for controlling flow of liquid throughthe va'lve, means providing adiaphragm chamber' having connection with the inlet side of the valvebody,

pa diaphragm in said chamber having one side subject to the hydrostatichead of liquid on the inlet side of the valve to effect movement of thediaphragm to valve opening position, means connecting the diaphragm withthe valving member, means connected with the diaphragm Achamber on theopposite side of said diaphragm for transmitting Said varying pressureoi elastic fluid to the diaphragm whereby the effect of the elasticiluid acting on the head ofv liquid is substantially balanced so thatthe diaphragm is responsive to the hydrostatic head of said liquid toopen the valve, means for checking opening movement of the valvingmember including means for timing closing of the valving member when thehydrostatic head`of'liquid drops to a predetermined level, and a springnormally urging the valve to closed position. 1

5. A valve for controlling flow of liquid subject to varying pressure ofan elastic fluid and responsive to hydrostatic head of the liquidincluding a valve body having an inlet adapted for connectionwith saidhead of liquid and having an outlet, Va valving A member in the valvebody for controlling flow of liquid through the valve, means providing adiaphragm chamber having connection with the inlet side of the valvebody, a diaphragm in said chamber having one side subject to thehydrostatic head of lddl `liquid on the inlet side of the valve toeffect moveand the valving member and having a port connected with theinlet side of the valve, and a piston slidable in the check chamber andconnected with said connecting means to draw liquid into the checkchamber through said port when the v alving member is moved to openposition responsive to a predetermined hydrostatic head of liquid and toexpel said indrawn liquid upon closing of the valving member when thehydrostatic head drops to' a predetermined level for timing the openingand closing period of the valving member.

6. A valve for controlling flow of liquid subject to varying pressure ofan elastic fluid and responsive to hydrostatic head of the liquidincluding a valve body having an inlet adapted for connection withsaidhead of liquid and having an outlet, a valving member in the valvebody for controlling ow of liquid through the valve, means providing adiaphragm chamber having connection with the inlet side of the valvebody, a diaphragm in said chamber having one side subject to thehydrostatic head of liquid on the inlet side of the valve to effectmovement of the diaphra to valve opening position, means connectin thediaphragm with the valving member, means connected with the diaphragmchamber on the opposite side of said diaphragm for transmitting varyingpressure of elastic fluid to the diaphragm whereby the eiect lof theelastic iiuid acting on the head of liquid is substantially balanced sothat the diaphragm is responsive to the hydrostatic head of said liquidto open the valving member, a check chamber supported between thediaphragm and the valving member and having a port connected.

with the inlet side of'the valve, a piston slidable in the check chamberand connected with said connecting means to draw liquid into the checkchamber through said port when the valving member is moved to openposition responsive to a predetermined hydrostatic head of liquid and toexpel said indrawn liquid upon closing of'the valving member when thehydrostatic head drops to a predetermined level lfor timing the openingand closing period of the valving member, and means selectivelyregulating the effective area of said port.

'1.- A valve including a valve body having inlet and outlet connectionsand a valve seat uiterposed between said connections, a valving memberfor said. seat to control ow of liquid from the inlet to the outletconnection, a dash-pot supported in the valve body and having a portdirectly connecting the dash-pot with the inlet connection for inletland outlet of a portion of the fluid passed through the valve, a pistonin the dash-pot, means connecting the piston with the valving member,means for actuating the valving member responsive to hydrostatic head ofthe liquid on said inlet side of the valve, and a valve for controllingthe effective area of said inlet and outlet port and having an operatingstem extending through to the exterior of the valve body for regu-latingthe checking effect of the inlet to the outlet connection, a dash-potysuspended within the valve body, a piston in the dash-pot, meansconnecting the piston with the valving member, a valve bonnet carried bythe valve body, a diaphragm housing on the valve bonnet having directconnection with the valve inlet, a diaphragm in the diaphragm housingresponsive to hydrostatic head of liquid on said inlet side of thevalve, a stem connecting the diaphragm with the piston, and means foradmitting a portion of said liquid to the dash-pot for checking actionof the piston responsive to movement of the diaphragm.

9. A valve including a valve body having inlet and outlet connectionsand a valve seat interi posed between said connections, a valving memberfor said seat tocontrol flow of liquid through the valve when underpressure of a gaseous medium, pressure actuated means on the inlet sideof the valving member for opening the valving member responsive toapredetermined head of said liquid, means connecting the valving memberwith the pressure actuated means, a dash-pot supported in the valve-bodybetween the pressure actuated means and the valving member and having aport for inlet and outlet of a portion of said liquid passed through thevalve, a piston in the dash-pot andinserted in vsaid connecting meansfor movement with the valving member to draw liquid through said portinto the dashpot and to discharge the liquid through said portincidentaly to opening and closing of the valve responsive to saidpressure actuated means, means admitting said gaseous me um to the valvefor acting upon the pressure ac ated means whereby the valve is movablerespoiisive only to said predetermined head, and a valving membercontrolling the effective area of said port to time opening and closinglmovements of. the valve.

